A police officer tried to wrestle one of the gunmen to the ground before he blew himself up in a bombing coordinated with two other suspects.

People take cover during the attack on Ataturk Airport in IstanbulCredit:
Laurence Cameron/Storyful

There were no immediate claims of responsibility, but Binali Yildirim, Turkey's prime minister, said it appeared to have been an attack by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) militants.

"There is initial evidence that each of the three suicide bombers blew themselves up after opening fire," he told reporters at the airport.

Mr Yildirim said the attackers had come to the airport by taxi and that preliminary findings pointed to Isil responsibility.

Isil had called for attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, and have focused attention on Turkey, which is currently bidding to join the European Union.

As many as 2.5 million Britons travel to Turkey each year, although the number of tourists is thought to have declined in recent months following a spate of Isil attacks in the country.

David Cameron described the terrorist attack as "hideous". The Prime Minister said the UK would continue to work with the other countries after Brexit on "keeping our countries safe, keeping our people safe - and it's particularly important to say that tonight again when there has been another hideous terrorist attack in Turkey".

Footage from the airport showed terrified children and parents crouched among debris on the floor as screams were heard in the background.

Police on the scene of the attack at Ataturk AirportCredit:
EPA

A German tourist, who was at passport control entering Turkey, said she threw herself onto the floor with the sound of the explosion.

"Everyone started running away. Everywhere was covered with blood and body parts. I saw bullet holes on the doors," she said outside the airport.

Gunfire was also reported by witnesses coming from the airport’s car park.

Turkey has suffered a spate of bombings this year, including two suicide attacks in tourist areas of Istanbul blamed on Isil, and two car bombings in the capital, Ankara, which were claimed by a Kurdish militant group.

Flights resume from US to Istanbul Ataturk airport

Flights between the United States and Istanbul Ataturk Airport have resumed after being interrupted for several hours following the attack, a US official told the Associated Press.

The official said 10 passenger flights were in the air, flying from Turkey to the US, at the time of the stoppage and they have all landed. However, cargo planes and corporate jets in the US would have been most affected by the stoppage. The official says the decision on lifting the stoppage was made in coordination with the Transportation Security Administration.

Albanian prime minister was landing at Istanbul's Ataturk airport when the attack occurred

According to the private Dogan news agency, a plane carrying Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was landing at Istanbul's Ataturk airport when the attack occurred. He was arriving on an official visit. The prime minister and his entourage were safely taken to an official residence. The group was to travel later on Wednesday to Turkey's capital, Ankara.

All three suicide bombers opened fire in Istanbul attack, says Turkish PM

Turkey's prime minister says 36 people and three suicide bombers have died in the attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport.

Prime minister Binali Yildirim says that so far all indications point to the Islamic State group being behind the attack. He says the attackers arrived at the airport in a taxi and blew themselves up after opening fire.

Asked whether a fourth attacker might have escaped, he says authorities have no such assessment but are considering every possibility.

He says the victims include some foreigners and that many of the dozens wounded have minor injuries but others are more badly hurt.

He says the attacks come as Turkey is having success in fighting terrorism and trying to normalise ties with neighbors like Russia and Israel.

BA flight turned back before landing

British Airways passengers on flight BA680 from London Heathrow to Ataturk were returned to the UK in the wake of the blasts.

The flight had been due to land at around 11.40pm local time (9.40pm BST), shortly after the explosions.

A BA spokesman said:

"We had one flight to Ataturk airport that has turned around and is coming back to London Gatwick.

"We don't have any other services scheduled today and we will keep the situation under review."

BBC correspondent Mark Lowen, speaking from a grounded plane on the Ataturk runway, told the corporation:

"We are being kept on board the plane and not being allowed to disembark because of what's happening inside the airport.

"We are not being told when we will be allowed to leave the aircraft, of course.

"I have lived here for two years and often thought coming into this airport it is a potentially vulnerable place and an attack could take place here because cars are not searched very often coming into the airport area.

"That said, as you come into the terminal building there are X-ray machines and scanners."

Security stepped up in New York and New Jersey

Extra police are being sent to airports in New York City and New Jersey following the Turkey attack.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said travellers should expect to see the officers patrolling at New York's John F Kennedy and LaGuardia airports and at Newark International Airport in New Jersey.

Justice Minister: 31 dead, 147 injured

A total of 31 people have been killed and 147 more wounded, broadcaster HaberTurk said, citing Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag.

Three suicide bombers opened fire before blowing themselves up in the main international airport in Istanbul on Tuesday, killing 28 people and wounding dozens more, the provincial governor and witnesses said.

Passengers hide as explosions rock airport

Donald Trump expresses condolences

Donald Trump has issued a message of support.

Our prayers are with the families of those killed and injured in Istanbul. The whole world is stunned and horrified.

The terrorist threat has never been greater. Our enemies are brutal and ruthless and will do anything to murder those who do not bend to their will. We must take steps now to protect America from terrorists, and do everything in our power to improve our security to keep America safe.

David Cameron: Attacks "hideous"

Prime Minister David Cameron described the terrorist attack as "hideous".

Mr Cameron, in Brussels for what is likely to be his final EU summit meeting with fellow leaders, said the UK would continue to work with the other countries after Brexit on "keeping our countries safe, keeping our people safe - and it's particularly important to say that tonight again when there has been another hideous terrorist attack in Turkey."

In a recorded audio statement, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham’s spokesman, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, said the new caliphate ran from Aleppo to Diyala province, north-east of Baghdad, and was expanding every day.

The time has come for the Ummah [nation] of Mohammed (peace be upon him) to wake up from its sleep, remove the garments of dishonour, and shake off the dust of humiliation and disgrace,” he says.

"For the era of lamenting and moaning has gone, and the dawn of honour has emerged anew.

"The sun of jihad has risen. The glad tidings of good are shining. Triumph looms on the horizon. The signs of victory have appeared.”

He spoke in Arabic but written versions were published online in English and other languages.

Relatives wait for news

Police believe Isil is behind attack

Police sources cited in Turkish media say they believe the attackers were affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil). The methods behind the attack and the fact that tourists may have been targeted led to initial speculation that Isil was involved, and the initial investigation apparently bears that out, though nothing is confirmed at this time.

Witness: police officer wrestled suicide bomber to ground

'Two to four terrorists threw grenades'

Raf Sanchez in Jerusalem has spoken to an Israeli official briefed on the attack:

"The attack apparently occurred in the departures area of the airport. Two to four terrorists threw grenades and / or IEDs before blowing themselves up. We are in contact with the authorities including police and the government. There are a lot of casualties. We are checking the status of Israeli citizens."

Attackers tried to pass through X-ray machine

Turkey's main international airport was hit by twins suicide bombs on Tuesday night, leaving 10 dead and as many as 40 injured.

Early reports indicate that two attackers detonated vests in the arrival hall of the busy airport at 10pm.

The pair had been trying to pass through the X-ray machine when they were stopped by security officials. When they began shooting with Kalashnikov rifles, the officers returned fire.

Gunfire was also reported by witnesses coming from the airport’s car park after four armed men were reportedly seen running away from the terminal building seconds after the explosions.

An ambulance arrives at the Ataturk airpor in Istanbul

Footage from the airport showed terrified children and parents crouched among debris on the floor with screams heard in the background.

Turkish officials said they suspected the blasts had been caused by suicide attacks.

Atatürk airport is the third busiest European airport. With hundreds of thousands of people traveling through each week, the attack raises serious questions over Turkey’s ability to secure the country.

The country has suffered several bombings in recent months linked to Kurdish or Islamic State group militants.

Turkish broadcaster: About 40 people wounded

Haberturk, a Turkish TV network, report that approximately 40 people have been injured in the attacks and are being transported to hospitals. All estimates are unconfirmed at this early stage, but reports indicate that this was a highly significant attack.